Decorative lighting fixture



p 1935- J. F. DONOVAN ET AL DECORATIVE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 25, 1935 Inventor's. John F. Donovan, FranK J. Mallog, by 77 Thei Attorneq Patented Sept. 1 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DECORATIVE LIGHTING FIXTURE New York Application June 25, 1935, Serial No. 28,276

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to electric light receptacles of the imitation candle type used for decorative purposes such as Christmas trees.

An object of our invention is to provide a sim- 5 ple, inexpensive construction which is easily assembled and is attractive in appearance.

Further features and advantages of our invention will appear from the following description of species thereof.

10 In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation in section of a receptacle comprising our invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of a form of lamp adapted to be used with the receptacle; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the core of the receptacle; Fig. 4 is 15 a perspective of a terminal member; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the form of clip shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial elevation of a receptacle with a modified clip; and Figs. '7 and 8 are side and front elevations showing another modified 20 clip. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the incandescent lamp I comprises a bulb II having a reduced neck portion I2. A filament I3 in the bulb II is mounted on inner lead wires I4, I

5 which are held in spaced relation by a glass bead I6 sealed around portions thereof. The lead wires I4, I5 extend through the wall of the neck portion I2 of the bulb and the outer ends I'I, I8, or outer leads, are exposed 30 and extend longitudinally upward along the said neck portion I2 of the bulb to serve as terminals for the lamp. The said outer leads are held in place by a gummed band I9 of insulating material such as paper or a heat resisting wax like 5 sealing wax. The neck I2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extending protuberances or lugs 2|], 2|, which may be blown therein, to prevent rotation of the bulb in the receptacle and to insure that the lamp is 40 correctly inserted in the said receptacle.

The receptacle comprises an outer tubular casing 22 of insulating material'such as cardboard. Within said casing is a cylindrical core 23 of insulating material, such as a molded syn- 45 thetic resin or wood, which may be cemented to the tube 22. Said core has a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extending grooves 24, 25. Pairs of transverse slots 26, 21 and 28, 29 are located near the upper end of the core 50 23 on opposite sides thereof and extend across the longitudinal grooves 24, 25 respectively. The upper portion 30 of the core is made of slightly reduced diameter in order that portions of metal terminal contact members 3|, 32 (Figs. 1 and 4) 55 will fit between said reduced portion of the core and the tube 22. Each of said terminals 3|, 32 has a pair or inwardly protuberant lugs or straps 33, 34 and 35, 36 respectively, formed by strips punched out of the body of the terminal. The end portions of conductors 31, 38 extend through 5 the said lugs and the bared ends are secured to the upper lugs 33, 35 respectively either by clinching or by soldering. The insulation is clinched under the lower lugs 34, 36 to prevent back stripping or raveling. The lugs-33, 34 and 35, 36 engage the slots 26, 21 and 26, 29 respectively in the core 23 and thereby serve the additional function-of positioning the terminals on the core and preventing relative movement therebetween. The conductors 31, 38 lie within the grooves 24, 25. The upper portions 39, 46 of the terminals 3|, 32 are of reduced size in cross-section and extend above the end of core 23 so that when the lamp I0 is inserted in the receptacle the neck portion I2 thereof engages the said upper portions of the terminals, the outer leads [1, I8 making electrical contact therewith. The lugs 20, 2| on the lamp neck I2 fit between the sides of terminal ends 39, 40, thereby insuring that the lamp is properly inserted and also preventing rotation of the lamp in the receptacle and injury to the leads. The shoulder 4| formed by the reduced neck portion I2 of the lamp bulb abuts against the upper end of the tube 22. A transverse slotor recess 42 may be provided in the upper end of the core 23 to receive the lower tip of the lamp bulb in cases where a bulb having a longer neck portion than the one illustrated is used. A slot or recess 43 may also be provided in the lower end of the core 23 in line with the ends of the grooves 24, 25 to receive the conductor 38 which is bent transversely across the end of the said core 23 and extends through said slot 43 and through an opening 44 in the lower end of the tube 22 opposite the groove 24.

The lower end of the receptacle is preferably provided with a clip 45 which may be of various forms. The clip 45 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 comprises a split tubular body portion 46 surrounding the lower end of the tube 22. A pair 45 of ears 41 formed at the lower end thereof serve to support ear portions or flaps 48 formed from the tube 22. The jaw 49 of the clip is secured to the body portion 46, and the jaw 50 is pivotally mounted on a. pin 5|, said jaws being held in the closed position by a spring 52.

The clip shown in Fig. 6 comprises a sleeve body portion 53 which fits inside of the tube 22 around a slightly reduced end portion of the core 55 v 23. A branch of a tree is gripped between the bottom of the receptacle and the teeth 54.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a sleeve surrounds the lower end of the tube 22 and has an angularly depending lip 56 at its lower end. The clip 51 consists of a leaf spring having an opening 58 therein through which extends a T-shaped lip 59 on the upper edge of the sleeve 55. The said clip 51 is provided with a longitudinal slot 60 extending from the opening 58 which permits insertion of the clip behind the head of the lip 59. The branch of a Christmas tree or the like is gripped between the lower end of the spring 51 and the sleeve 55.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric candle comprising a hollow insulating tube simulating a candle-stick, a core of insulating material in said tube having lateral slots on opposite sides thereof, metal terminal members disposed between said core and tube and extending above the top of said core to receive an electric lamp and having lugs thereon consisting of inwardly protuberant straps engaging with said slots in said core to prevent rela tive movement between said core and terminal members, and electrical conductors having their ends secured between said straps and the body portions of said terminal members.

2. An electric candle comprising a hollow nsulating tube simulating a candle-stick, a core of insulating material in said tube having longitudinally extending grooves on opposite sides thereof and having lateral slots extending across said grooves, metal terminal members disposed between said core and tube and extending above the top of said core to receive an electric lamp and having lugs thereon engaging with said slots in said core to prevent relative movement between said core and terminal members, electrical conductors secured to said terminal members, said core also having a slot across the lower end thereof between said longitudinal grooves, one of said conductors extending across the end of said core through said slot, both of said conductors extending outward through a lateral opening at the lower end of the said insulating tube, and a clip mounted on the lower end of said tube for attaching the candle to a Christmas tree or the like.

3. The combination of an electric candle fixture comprising a hollow insulating tube simulating a candle-stick, a core of insulating material within said tube, a pair of metal terminal members having upper portions thereof extending above the end of said core of curved cross-section for receiving an electric lamp, there being spaces between the sides of said terminal member portions, and an electric lamp comprising a neck portion adapted to fit between said upper terminal member portions and having terminal contacts at the sides thereof adapted to make electrical contact with said terminal member portions, said neck portion of said lamp also having longitudinally extending protuberances on opposite sides thereof adapted to fit in the spaces between the sides of said upper terminal member portions.

JOHN F. DONOVAN. FRANK J A MALLOY. 

